A family of four in Minnesota making $100,000 per year, itemization not considered, pays $4,409 in state taxes. If this family lived in North Dakota, they would only pay $941 in state taxes. If the same family made $150,000 per year, they would pay $7,934 in Minnesota state taxes compared to $2,013 in North Dakota. At $200,000 per year, itemization not considered, the family would pay $11,578 in taxes in Minnesota or $3,154 in North Dakota. Finally, at $250,000 per year, itemization not considered, the family would pay $15,503 in Minnesota or $4,399, more than two-thirds less, in North Dakota.

For a family living in Moorhead, Minnesota, and making $100,000 per year as a household this means that they could move a couple of miles across the Red River into North Dakota – while staying, essentially, in the same metro area – and see their income tax burden drop by a whopping 78 percent.

That’s remarkable, and no doubt a big reason why along the border communities – Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, Fargo/Moorhead, Wahpeton/Breckenridge – the population is so much higher on the North Dakota side of the border.

Why would you want to stay in Minnesota and pay taxes that are so much higher?